Fan mounting



Sept. 7, 1965 A. KRELL 3,204,546

FAN MOUNTING Filed Oct. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 7 Flea) K R54 4 riff/ Sept. 7, 1965 A. KRELL 3,204,546

FAN MOUNTING INVENTOR. fibqqfo KREl L United States Patent "ice 3,204,546 FAN MOUNTING Alfred Krell, North Bellmore, N.Y., assignor to IMC Magnetics Corp., Westbury, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 316,245 6 Claims. (Cl. 98--39) This invention relates to fans, and more particularly to means for mounting fans in the wall of an enclosure in which air is to be circulated.

In installations of the type to which the invention relates, available space within the enclosure is usually at a premium. For example, the enclosure might be the housing for a piece of electronic equipment designed to be as compact as possible. Consequently, the fan must not only be specially designed to be as small as possible, but it must be mounted in such a way as to take up as little room as possible within the enclosure. Furthermore, depending upon the particular installation, it may be desirable to exhaust air from the enclosure or introduce fresh air into the enclosure. In the latter case, it may also be desirable to filter or heat the air as it enters the enclosure. What is more, the volumes of air required to be moved often vary depending upon the installation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for mounting a fan in the wall of an enclosure so that it may optionally be arranged flush with the outer face of the wall, whereby it occupies the smallest possible space Within the enclosure, or spaced inwardly from the outer face of the enclosure, whereby a filter or heater may be arranged adjacent to it and flush with the outer face of the Wall.

It is another object of the invention to provide such means which permit mounting of the fan to exhaust air from or introduce air into the enclosure with equal ease.

It is a further object of the invention to provide fan mounting means capable of cooperating in any one of a plurality of angularly spaced apart relative positions whereby the electrical connection to the fan may be made as convenient as possible.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide mounting means by means of which a decorative screen or grill may be secured to the enclosure wall to hide the fan and thereby enhance the appearance of the enclosure.

It is still another object of the invention to provide mounting means for supporting one or more fans so that the volume of air moved by a fan installation may be varied.

To achieve these objectives, the invention provides a pair of identical brackets of special character adapted to be secured to the outer face of an enclosure wall having an Opening in it. Part of each bracket extends into the enclosure through the opening and carries elements adapted to cooperate with a framework of special character which supports a fan. The brackets and framework are so conceived that they may be secured together in a variety of ways whereby the fan may be mounted in any of the positions mentioned above. In addition, the brackets are adapted to cooperate with special clips carried by a decorative screen or grill assembly whereby the latter may readily be secured to the enclosure wall.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fan installation according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in crosssection, showing a fan framework mounted directly to a wall;

3,204,546 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 FIG. 3 is a face view of a fan and framework mounted on a wall by means of brackets according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a filter associated with the fan;

FIG. 6 is a face view, with parts broken away, of the assembly of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing an alternative bracket-mounting arrangement.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the components of a fan installation according to this invention are generally a fan 10, a framework 11 for the fan, brackets 12 and 13 for supporting the framework, a screen assembly 14, and, if desired, a filter 15.

The framework 11 comprises a hollow, generally cylindrical, body portion 16 to which the fan housing 17 is secured by the struts 20. At its ends, the body portion 16 is provided with square flanges 21 and 22, the flange 21 having a hole 23 at each of its corners, and the flange 22 having a hole 24 at each of its corners. The holes 23 and 24 at each pair of corresponding corners of the flanges are in alignment along a line parallel to the axis of the fan 10. Bosses 25 and 26 surround the holes 23 and 24, respectively, and project into the space between the flanges 21 and 22. Fixed to the flange 21, near one of its corners, is an electrical connector 27, connected by Wires (not shown) to the fan motor within the housing 17. The connector 27 may be of the type described in co-pending application Serial No. 344,087, filed February 11, 1964. By means of this connection the fan is connected to a suitable source of power when it is installed in the enclosure in which air is to be circulated.

Each of the brackets 12 and 13 includes a front face portion 30, a bridge portion 31 extending perpendicular to the face portion, and a pair of ears 32 extending perpendicular to the bridge portion in a direction opposite to the face portion. The face portion 30 is provided with a hole 33 near each end to accommodate fasteners by means of which the bracket is secured to the wall of the enclosure in which the fan is to be mounted. Each of the ears 32 is also provided with a hole 34. The spacing between the holes 34 corresponds exactly to the spacing between the two holes 23 located along any side of the flange 21. Consequently, the holes 34 in the ears 32 of each bracket and two of the holes 23 can be brought into registry, and fasteners 35 fitted into them in order to secure the framework 11 to the brackets 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 4. In the alternative, the holes 34 in the ears of each bracket can be brought into registry with two of the holes 24 in the flange 22, and fasteners fitted into them in order to secure the framework to the brackets, as shown in FIG. 5.

The bridge portion 31 of each bracket 12 and 13 is deformed near each end to define strengthening ribs 36. The central region of the bridge portion is provided with a slot or detent 37 adapted to cooperate with a clip, to be described, for mounting the screen assembly 14 on the wall to which the fan is secured. The bridge portion is also provided with a pair of spaced-apart tabs 40, which may be struck out of the material of the bracket and serve to guide the clip toward the slot 37.

The screen assembly 14 comprises a screen frame 41 having a central opening, and a recess 42 (see FIGS. 5 and 7 on its inner face surrounding the central opening. A screen 43 extends over the frame opening, and the margins of the screen lie in the recess 42. Two elements 44 of special character are secured to the inner face of the frame 41 on opposite sides of the central opening. The elements are formed of a springy material, such as spring steel, and each includes a pair of fingers 45 the free ends of which extend over the recess 42 and resiliently clamp the margins of the screen 43 in place.

Each element 44 is also formed to present an inwardly projecting clip 46, having an integrally formed projection 47 at its free end. The projection 47 snaps into the slat 37 in the bracket 12 or 13 in order to hold the screen assembly in its operative position. The width of the clip 46 is so related to the spacing between the tabs 40 that the clip fits between the tabs. I

In addition to the fingers 45 and clip 46, each element 44 also presents a pair of arms 50, the middle portion of each being arranged at an angle to the plane of the frame 41 so that its free end is spaced inwardly from the frame. The free ends of the arms 50 bear against the filter 15, if the latter is used, and press it against the outer face of the framework 11.

The filter 15, in the present illustration, comprises a frame 48 carrying the filtering material 49, which may be a fine mesh screen. The frame 48 is preferably provided with depressions or holes 53 at its corners for accommodating the heads of the screws which secure the fan framework 11 to the cars 32 of the brackets 12 and 13 so that the filter frame is permitted to rest flush against the fan framework.

According to this invention, a fan supported by the framework 11 may be mounted by means of the brackets 12 and 13 on a wall 51, having a preferably square opening 52 in it (see FIG. 3), in a variety of ways depending upon the requirements of the particular situation. Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to secure the fan directly to the inner face of wall 51 without the use of the brackets, as shown in FIG. 2. In this case, four holes are provided in the wall 51 around a preferably circular opening 52a in the wall, the holes being arranged to register with the holes 23 or 24 in the fan framework 11. Fasteners 55 extend through the holes in the wall 51 and holes 23 or 24. If it is desired to draw air out of the enclosure, the framework 11 will be positioned so that the holes 23 will be placed adjacent to the inner face of the wall 51 as shown in FIG. 2. However, if air is to be blown into the enclosure, the holes 24 will be placed adjacent to the wall 51.

In the more usual case, the fan is mounted in its operative position by means of the brackets 12 and 13. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the face portion of each bracket is secured to the outer face of the wall 51 by means of fasteners 56. The fasteners extend through the holes 33 in the bracket portions 30 and through two holes provided in the wall 51 adjacent to each of the top and bottom edges of the opening 52. The brackets are so mounted that their bridge portions 31 extend into the enclosure through the opening 52.

If no filter is to be used with the fan, and if air is to be drawn out of the enclosure, the framework 11 will be mounted on the brackets as shown in FIG. 4. The bosses 26 surrounding the holes 24 in the flange 22 are brought against the ears 32 of the brackets, and the framework is secured to the brackets by fasteners which extend through the holes 24 and holes 34 in the ears. With the framework mounted in this way, the outer face of the flange 21 is arranged flush with the outer face of the Wall 51. If air is to be blown into the enclosure, rather than out of it, the fan and framework would be rotated 180 about a horizontal axis parallel with the wall 51 and secured with the bosses 25 in contact with the ears 32. In this case the fasteners 35 pass through the holes 23 and are provided, as previously with lock nuts 38.

Should it be desired to filter the air which is introduced into the closure, the fan and framework must be shifted inwardly to make room for the filter. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the framework has been secured to the brackets 12 and 13 with the bosses 26 in contact with the ears 32 providing a space between the outer face of the flange 22 and the outer surface of the wall 51. This space is just sufiicient to accommodate the filter 15 in such a way that its outer face is flush with the outer surface of the wall 51. The holes 53 in the filter frame fit over the heads of the screws 35 fastening the framework 11 to the brackets.

After the framework 11 has been mounted in the desired position on the brackets, the screen frame 14 is fitted into place by maneuvering it so that the clips 46 slide, inwardly between the tabs 40, along the bridge portions 31 of the brackets until the projection 47 on the end of each clip snaps into its respective slot 37 in the bridge portions. The spacing'of the slot 37 from the front face portion 30 of the bracket is so related to the length of the clip 46 that when the projection 47 reaches the slot 37, the screen frame 14 comes into contact with the wall 51. The filter 15 is maintained spaced from the surfaces of the bridge portions 31 by virtue of the cooperation between the holes 53 in the filter frame and the heads of screws 35. Hence, the filter does not interfere with the movement of the clips 46.

Just before the projections 47 reach the slots 37, during the movement of the screen frame into its operative position, the resilient arms 50 projecting inwardly from the screen frame contact the outer face of the filter frame 48. During the final portion of the movement of the screen frame, therefore, the arms 50 are stressed in an outward direction whereby they serve to press the filter 15 inwardly against the fan framework 11 thereby holding the filter in place despite possible vibrations of the assembly. Although in the above description reference is made to a filter 15, it should be mentioned that this filter may, if desired, be replaced by an electrically operated heater having the same dimensions as the filter 15. Consequently, throughout this description and the appended claims, filter should be read to mean filter or heater.

Since the flanges 21 and 22 of the framework 11 are square, the distance between the two holes on each side of each flange is equal to the distance between the two holes on every other side of the flange. Consequently, after it has been decided whether to mount the fan for blowing air into or out of the enclosure, and flush with the wall 51 or spaced inwardly of it, the framework can be mounted in any one of four positions spaced apart. As a result, the connector 27 (FIG. 1) can be brought to the most convenient position, in any particular installation, for connection to the power source within the enclosure.

Since the brackets 12 and 13 are secured to the outer face of the wall 51, the spacing of the ears 32 from the outer face of the wall is independent of the thickness of the wall. Therefore, regardless of the thickness of the wall to which the brackets are secured, the framework 11, or filter 15, can always be mounted flush with the outer face of the wall.

In FIG. 4, the brackets 12 and 13 are shown secured to the wall 51 by screws 56 which pass through the holes 33 in the brackets and aligned holes in the wall, and have nuts 57 threaded on to their ends. It sometimes happens that the enclosure in which the fan is to be mounted is so crowded with electronic instruments or other contents that access cannot be obtained around the bracket 12 or 13 to the nut 57. Therefore, some other arrangement must be employed to secure the brackets to the wall. Such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 7. Before the bracket is put in place a screw 58 is passed through each hole in the wall 51 from inside the enclosure, and a nut 59 is provided on the outer side of the wall for holding the screw 58 in place. The bracket 13 may then be fitted on to the screw, and a second nut 60 is used to hold it in place. It will be seen that by means of this arrangement, access around the bracket is not required to mount it in its operative position. In all respects, the bracket functions as described above in connection with FIGS. 1-6.

If more air movement is required than can be furnished by a single fan 10, a second fan and framework identical to that illustrated can be conveniently arranged in tandem with the framework 11. The second framework is placed against the framework 11 with the holes of the two in registry, and the frameworks are bolted together. In the case of an installation such as that of FIG. 4, the same fasteners which secure the framework 11 to the brackets can also be used to connect the two frameworks.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only and by way of example, and many variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fan mounting for use with a wall of an enclosure, said wall having an opening therein, comprising:

(I) a framework for supporting the fan motor with its axis perpendicular to the wall, said framework including (A) a hollow body portion within which the fan motor is supported, and

(B) an outwardly extending flange at each end of said body portion, said flanges being adapted to be disposed parallel to the wall of the enclosure and being spaced apart in the direction of the fan axis,

(C) each flange having at least two mounting holes on opposite side-s of said body portion, the axis of each mounting hole in each flange being colinear with the axis of one of the holes in the other flange, the hole axes being parallel to the axis of the fan motor, and

(II) a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be secured to the wall at opposite edges of the opening therein, each bracket including (A) a front portion adapted to be secured to the outer face of the enclosure wall,

(B) a bridge portion extending rearwardly from the front portion into the enclosure through the opening in the wall,

(C) a mounting portion extending from the rearward end of said bridge portion into the region between said flanges, said mounting portion being adapted to be attached to the holes in either of said flanges and adapted to be so spaced from the outer face of the enclosure wall that said framework may be optionally secured with one of its flanges flush with or spaced inwardly of the outer face of the wall,-

and (D) means for optionally securing said mounting portion to either of said flanges.

2. A fan mounting according to claim 1 including a screen for covering the outer face of said fan and framework, a frame for said screen, a resilient clip carried by said frame and projecting inwardly through said opening, said clip having a projection, the bridge portion of said bracket having a detent cooperating with said projection for holding said screen frame in place against the outer face of said wall, said screen frame having a recess surrounding the central opening of the frame, the margins of said screen being arranged within said recess, and resilient fingers secured to said frame and overlying said recess for maintaining said screen margins in said recess.

3. A fan mounting according to claim 2 including a resilient arm carried by said screen frame, said arm having a free end spaced inwardly of said frame and being yieldable toward said frame, said free end being adapted to engage the outwardly facing face of a filter disposed adjacent to said framework and press it inwardly against the framework when said screen frame is positioned with said clip cooperating with said detents.

4. A fan mounting according to claim 3 wherein said clip, fingers, and arm are integrally formed of resilient material.

5. A fan mounting for use with a wall of an enclosure, said Wall having an opening therein, comprising:

(I) a framework for supporting the fan motor, said framework including (A) a hollow body portion within which the fan moto is mounted, and

(B) a square flange extending outwardly from said body portion,

(C) each corner of said flange having a hole,

(II) an electrical connector fixed to said framework and connected to said motor, and

(III) at least one mounting bracket adapted to be secured to said wall at an edge of said opening, a portion of said bracket extending rearwardly through the opening in the wall and carrying mounting means at its rearward end, said mounting means being cooperable with any two of said holes arranged along one side of said framework for supporting the latter,

whereby said framework may be supported in any one of four positions spaced apart to locate said connector in a convenient orientation for connection to a source of electric power.

6. A fan mounting for use with a wall of an enclosure, said wall having an opening therein, comprising:

(I) at least one mounting bracket adapted to be secured to the Wall at an edge of the opening, a portion of said bracket extending rearwardly through the opening and carrying mounting means at its rearward end, and

(II) a framework for supporting the fan motor with its axis perpendicular to the wall, said framework including (A) a hollow cylindrical body portion within which the fan motor is coaxially supported, said body portion having an inlet end through which air enters said body when the fan is in operation and an outlet end through which air exits,

(B) an outwardly extending flange at each end of said body portion,

(C) each of said flanges being provided with a plurality of holes aligned in the direction of the fan axis with corresponding holes in the other flange, and

(D) a boss surrounding each of said holes and projecting into the space between said flanges, the face of each boss being spaced from the end of said framework body farthest from it, said spacing being equal to the spacing between the outer face of the wall and said bracketcarried mounting means,

whereby said framework may be mounted on said bracket with either its intake or outlet end flush with the oute face of a wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FAN MOUNTING FOR USE WITH A WALL OF AN ENCLOSURE, SAID WALL HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, COMPRISING: (I) A FRAMEWORK FOR SUPORTING THE FAN MOTOR WITH ITS AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE WALL, SAID FRAMEWORK INCLUDING (A) A HOLLOW BODY PORTION WITHIN WHICH THE FAN MOTOR IS SUPPORTED, AND (B) AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE AT EACH END OF SAID BODY PORTION, SAID FLANGES BEING ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED PARALLEL TO THE WALL OF THE ENCLOSURE AND BEING SPACED APART IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FAN AXIS, (C) EACH FLANGE HAVING AT LEAST TWO MOUNTING HOLES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY PORTION, THE AXIS OF EACH MOUNTING HOLE IN EACH FLANGE BEING COLINEAR WITH THE AXIS OF ONE OFTHE HOLES IN THE OTHER FLANG,E THE HOLE AXES BEING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE FAN MOTOR, AND (II) A PAIR OF MOUNTING BRACKETS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE WALL AT OPPOSITE EDGES OF THE OPENING THEREIN EACH BRACKET INCLUDING (A) A FRONT PORTION ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO THE OUTER FACES OF THE ENCLOSURE WALL, (B) A BRIDGE PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM THE FRONT PORTION INTO THE ENCLOSURE THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE WALL, 